System for, and method of, indicating to a child the accuracy of shooting a basketball to make a basket

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a backboard, a rim on the backboard and a net extending from the rim are provided for a child shooting a basketball. A first sensor on the backboard produces a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard. A second sensor disposed relative to the rim produces a second signal when the basketball hits the rim. A third sensor disposed relative to the net produces a third signal when the basketball passes through the net. The first, second and third sensors may respectively include first, second and third switches which respectively close when the basketball hits the backboard, when the basketball hits the rim and when the basketball passes through the net and which respectively cause the first, second and third signals to be produced when they close. The first, second and third signals may be processed as by a microprocessor to provide an indication of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. The processing of the first signal relative to the second and third signals may be delayed to coordinate the operation of the microprocessor in indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. Similarly, the processing of the second signal may be delayed relative to the processing of the third signal. The path of movement of the basketball may be indicated on a sensory basis such as orally and in a manner to offer encouragement to the child.

[0001] This invention relates to a system for, and method of, indicating to a player (e.g. a child) the accuracy of shooting a basketball in an attempt to have the basketball pass through a net supported by a rim on a backboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The game of basketball has grown in popularity throughout the years in the United States and in much of the world. It may be the most popular sport now in the United States for both men and women. It is almost certainly the most popular sport during the winter months since it may be an indoor sport. Its popularity is enhanced because it requires no equipment other than a basketball which is relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, the uniforms for the players are relatively inexpensive.

[0003] Children start to play basketball at a relatively early age. For example, children as young as four (4) years old will attempt to dribble and shoot a basket. When they play basketball, they respond well to encouragement. However, they often play by themselves. No one has apparently provided previously a basketball assembly or system for children where the assembly or system provides a sensory indication (preferably oral) of the flight path of the basketball, when shot by children, relative to a backboard, a rim supported by the backboard and a net extending from the rim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a backboard, a rim on the backboard and a net extending from the rim are provided for a child shooting a basketball. A first sensor on the backboard produces a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard. A second sensor disposed relative to the rim produces a second signal when the basketball hits the rim. A third sensor disposed relative to the net produces a third signal when the basketball passes through the net.

[0005] The first, second and third sensors may respectively include first, second and third switches which respectively close when the basketball hits the backboard, when the basketball hits the rim and when the basketball passes through the net and which respectively cause the first, second and third signals to be produced when they close. The first, second and third signals may be processed as by a microprocessor to provide an indication of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.

[0006] The processing of the first signal relative to the second and third signals may be delayed to coordinate the operation of the microprocessor in indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net. Similarly, the processing of the second signal may be delayed relative to the processing of the third signal. The path of movement of the basketball may be indicated on a sensory basis such as orally and in a manner to offer encouragement to the child.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In the drawings:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backboard, a rim supported by the backboard, a net supported by, and extending from, the rim and sensors, associated with the backboard, the rim and the net for indicating the movements of a basketball shot by a child player;

[0009]FIG. 1A is an enlarged fragmentary plan view which is taken substantially on the rotary line designated as 1A in FIG. 1 and which shows in additional detail the construction and operation of the sensor associated with the backboard;

[0010]FIG. 1B is an enlarged fragmentary plan view which is taken substantially on the rotary line designated as 1B in FIG. 1 and which shows in additional detail the construction and operation of the sensor associated with the rim;

[0011]FIG. 1C is an enlarged fragmentary plan view which is taken substantially on the rotary line designated as 1C in FIG. 1 and which shows in additional detail the construction and operation of the sensor associated with the net;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a flow chart indicating the sensory response of a preferred embodiment of this invention to various paths of movement of a basketball relative to the rim and the net after the basketball shot by the child impinges against the backboard;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a flow chart indicating the sensory response of the preferred embodiment of the invention to various paths of movement of the basketball relative to the rim and the net after the basketball shot by the child fails to hit the backboard but hits the rim; and

[0014]FIG. 4 is a flow chart indicating the sensory response of the preferred embodiment of the invention to the movement of the basketball through the net without hitting the backboard or the rim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a basketball assembly generically indicated at 10 (FIG. 1) is provided. The basketball assembly 10 includes a backboard 12 which may be disposed on a stanchion 14. A rim 16 is supported by the backboard 12. A net 18 extends from the rim 16. The stanchion 14, the backboard 12, the rim 16 and the net 18 may be constructed in a conventional manner. However, the stanchion 14, the backboard 12, the rim 16 and the net 18 b may be constructed in a reduced size so as to be adaptable for play by a young child preferably in the age group of approximately 4 to 9.

[0016] A sensor generally indicated at 20 is associated with the backboard 12. The sensor 20 may include a switch 22 which is normally open but which is closed when a basketball 24 shot by a player (e.g. a child) impinges upon or hits the backboard. The switch 22 is shown in FIG. 1A as sensing light when the two (2) terminals in the switch become aligned as a result of an impact of the basketball 24 against the backboard 12. The light-sensing characteristics of the switch 22 are only illustrative and a number of other types of switches including mechanical, electrical and semiconductor may also be used.

[0017] A sensor generally indicated at 26 in FIG. 1B is associated with the rim 16. The sensor 26 may include a switch 28 which is normally open but which is closed when the basketball 24 shot by the child impinges upon or hits the rim 16 and causes this rim to deflect downwardly from the backboard as a fulcrum. The switch 28 is shown in FIG. 1B as sensing light when the two (2) terminals become aligned as a result of an impact of the basketball 24 against the rim 16. The light-sensing characteristics of the switch 28 are only illustrative and a number of other types of switches including mechanical, electrical and semiconductor may also be used.

[0018] A sensor generally indicated at 30 is associated with the net 18. The sensor 30 may include a switch 32 (FIG. 1C) which is normally open but which is closed when the basketball shot by the child passes through the net 18. The switch 32 may be disposed at a position on the net to close when the basketball has passed fully into the net 18 without any prospect that the basketball will pop upwardly out of the net. For example, the switch 32 may be light sensitive and may be responsive to an interruption in the passage of light from the backboard 12 through the net 18 between terminals on the opposite sides of the net when the basketball 24 passes through the net. This is shown illustratively in FIG. 1C. The light-sensing characteristics of the switch 32 are only illustrative and a number of other types of switches including mechanical, electrical and semiconductor may also be used.

[0019]FIG. 2 constitutes a flow chart generally indicated at 34. The operation of the flow chart 34 may be under the direction of a microprocessor 33. Broken lines 31 encompass the flow chart 80, and a line 37 extends from the microprocessor to the broken lines, to show that the microprocessor controls the operation of the flow chart. As a first step in the flow chart 34, a determination is made as at 35 whether the basketball 24 shot by the child, has impinged upon the backboard 12. An indication is provided at 36 when the basketball 24 strikes or hits the backboard 12. A delay is then provided as at 38 to provide time for the basketball 24 to bounce from the backboard 12 to the rim 14 on the net 18. When the basketball 24 does not hit the rim after the delay 38, a signal provided as at 40. A further delay may be provided as at 42 to allow time for the basketball 24 to pass through the net 18. An indication may be provided at 43 that the basketball 24 hit the backboard 12 but not the rim 14 and that the ball did not pass through the net. This indication may be sensory. Preferably the indication may be made orally as by a recorder 44, which receives a signal on a line 45 from the block 43 to provide the oral indication.

[0020] When the basketball hits the rim 14, a signal is provided as at 48. Upon the production of the signal at 48, the oral indication as at 42 is prevented from occurring. This is indicated at 50. This prevention is provided by introducing a signal as at 51 to the block 43 to neutralize the operation of the block. The production of the signal as at 48 to indicate the striking of the rim 14 by the basketball 24 may be delayed as at 52 to provide an opportunity for the basketball 24 to pass through the net 18.

[0021] At the end of the delay 52, a determination is made as to whether the basketball 24 has passed through the net 18. This is indicated at 53. If the basketball 24 has not passed through the net 18, an indication may be provided as at 54 that the basketball has hit the backboard 12 and the rim 16 but has not passed through the net 18. This indication may be provided orally by the recorder 44 by the passage of a signal through a line 55 from the block 54 to the recorder 44. A delay may be provided as at 56, before the provision of the indication 54, to make certain that the basketball has not passed through the net 18.

[0022] It is possible for the basketball 24 to hit the backboard 12 and then pass through the net 18 without hitting the rim 16. The line 40 provides an indication that the basketball 24 has not hit the rim 18. A determination is then made as at 60 to whether the basketball 24 has passed from the backboard 12 through the net 18 without hitting the rim. If the answer is yes, an indication is provided at 62 that the ball has passed through the net 18 from the backboard 12 without hitting the rim 16. This indication is introduced to the recorder 44, as at 63, to obtain an oral indication from the recorder that the basketball 24 has hit the backboard 12 and has passed through the net 18 without passing through the rim. A delay may be provided as at 64 to provide the basketball 24 with an adequate time to pass through the net 18 from the backboard 12 without hitting the rim 16.

[0023] The basketball 24 may hit the backboard 12 and then the rim and subsequently pass through the net 24. When this occurs, a signal is produced on a line 68. This signal causes an indication to be provided as at 70 that the basketball 24 has hit the backboard 12 and the rim 16 and has then passed through the net 18. This indication is introduced as at 71 to the recorder 44 to obtain an oral indication by the recorder that the basketball has hit the backboard 12 and the rim 14 and has passed through the net 18. The signal on the line 68 also produces a signal which is introduced as at 72 to a block 74 to prevent a sensory indication from being provided that the basketball 24 has hit the backboard 12 and the rim 16 but has not passed through the net 18. The sensory indication from the block 74 is introduced at 76 to the block 54 to neutralize the operation of the block 54 and prevent the block from indicating that the basketball 24 has hit the backboard 12 and the rim 14 but has not passed through the net 18.

[0024]FIG. 3 provides a flow chart, generally indicated at 80, which is operative under the control of the microprocessor 33. The control by the microprocessor 33 is indicated by broken lines 81 extending around the flow chart 80 and by a bus 83 extending from the microprocessor to the flow chart. The flow chart 80 is operative under the control of the microprocessor 33 when the basketball 24 impinges upon the rim 16 as indicated at 82 in FIG. 3. When this occurs, a determination is made as at 84 as to whether the basketball has previously hit the backboard 12. If the answer is no, a signal is produced as at 85. A delay may then be provided as at 86 to provide time for the basketball 24 to pass through the net 18. A determination is then made as at 87 as to whether the basketball 24 has passed through the net 24.

[0025] When the basketball 24 does not pass through the net 18, a signal is produced as at 88. This causes an indication to be produced as at 89 in FIG. 3 that the basketball 24 has hit the rim but has not passed through the net 18. A delay may be provided as at 90 to allow time for the basketball 24 to pass from the rim 18 to and through the net 24. When the indication is provided as at 89 that the basketball 24 has hit the rim 14 but has not passed through the net 18, a signal is introduced on a line 91 to the recorder 44 to obtain an oral indication to this effect from the recorder.

[0026] When the basketball 24 passes through the net 18 after hitting the rim 16 but not the backboard 12, a signal is produced as indicated at 92. This signal causes an indication 94 to be produced that the basketball 24 has hit the rim 16 but not the backboard 12 and that the basketball has passed through the net 18. This indication may be introduced through a line 95 to the recorder 44 to obtain an oral indication from the recorder that the basketball 24 has hit the rim 16 but not the backboard 12 and has passed through the net 18. The indication 94 also prevents an indication from being produced that the basketball 24 has hit the rim 16 but not the backboard 12 and that the basketball has not passed through the net 18. This is indicated at the block 96. The indication in the block 96 is introduced as at 98 to the block 89 to neutralize the block 89 and prevent the block 89 from indicating that the basketball 24 has hit the rim 18 but not the backboard 12 and has not passed through the net 24.

[0027]FIG. 4 provides a flow chart, generally indicated at 100, to indicate when the basketball 24 fails to hit the backboard 12 or the rim 16, but has passed through the net 18. The flow chart 100 is operative under the control of the microprocessor 33. This is indicated by broken lines 101 around the flow chart shown in FIG. 4 and by a bus 103 extending in FIG. 4 from the microprocessor to the broken lines. In FIG. 4, an indication is provided as at 102 when the basketball passes through the net 24. When this occurs, determinations are made as to whether the basketball 24 has previously hit the backboard 12 or the rim 18. The failure of the basketball 24 to previously hit the backboard 12 is indicated at 104 in FIG. 5. The failure of the basketball 24 to previously hit the rim 16 is indicated at 106 in FIG. 4.

[0028] Under such circumstances, an indication is provided as at 108 that the basketball 24 has passed through the net 24 without striking the backboard 12 or the rim 18. This indication may be introduced as at 110 to the recorder 44 to obtain an oral indication by the recorder that the basketball has passed through the net without hitting the backboard 12 or the rim 16. This indication may also be provided to blocks in FIGS. 2 and 3 to prevent any indications that the basketball 24 has hit the backboard 12 or the rim 16. This is indicated at 112 in FIG. 4.

[0029] Since the system described above and shown in the drawings is primarily intended for use by young children in the age of approximately 4 to 9, the oral indications provided by the recorder 44 are intended to be encouraging to the child. For example, when the basketball 24 hits the backboard 12 and the rim 16 but does not pass through the net 18, the recorder 44 may provide an oral indication that the shot was a good shot and that the child almost made a basket. As another example, when the basketball passes through the net 24 without hitting the backboard 12 or the rim 18, the recorder 44 may provide an indication in an excited voice that the child has made a great shot.

[0030] Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular preferred embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments which will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player, a basketball backboard, a rim supported by the backboard, a net supported by the rim, a first member disposed on the backboard and responsive to the impingement of the basketball against the backboard for producing a first indication, a second member disposed relative to the rim and responsive to the impingement of the basketball on the rim for producing a second indication, a third member responsive to the passage of the basketball through the net for producing a third indication, and a microprocessor responsive to the production of individual ones and combinations of the first, second and third indications for indicating whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net.
 2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, a sensory recorder responsive to the indications from the individual ones of the first, second and third sensors and responsive to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating whether the basketball has passed through the net and, if so, whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim before passing through the net.
 3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, a voice recorder responsive to the production of individual ones of the first, second and third signals and responsive to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating orally whether the basketball has passed through the net and, if not, whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim.
 4. In a combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first, second and third members respectively include first, second and third switches.
 5. In a combination as set forth in claim 2, delays respectively associated with the first and second members in introducing the signals from the first and second members to the recorder.
 6. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and the rim but has not passed through the net.
 7. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon an individual one of the backboard and the rim but not the other one of the backboard and the rim and has not passed through the net.
 8. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without impinging upon the backboard and the rim.
 9. In a combination as set forth to claim 1, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon an individual one of the backboard and the rim.
 10. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from the individual ones of the first, second and third members and to the operation of the microprocessor for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and then the rim and has passed through the net.
 11. In combination for use with a basketball when shot by a player, a backboard, a rim supported by the backboard, a net extending downwardly from the rim, a first sensor for providing a first signal when the basketball shot by the player hits the backboard, a second sensor for providing a second signal when the basketball shot by the player hits the rim, a third sensor for providing a third signal when the basketball shot by the player passes through the net, and a processor responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals and to combinations of the first, second and third signals for indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.
 12. In a combination as set forth in claim 11, including, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications from the processor for providing a sensory report of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.
 13. In a combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein delays are provided in the responses of the processor to the signals from the individual ones of the first and second sensors relative to the response of the processor to the signal from the third sensor.
 14. In a combination as recited in claim 12 wherein the sensory apparatus constitutes a voice recorder for providing an audible report of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net and wherein delays are provided in the response of the processor to the signals from the individual ones of the first and second sensors relative to the response of the processor to the signal from the third sensor.
 15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein the first sensor includes a first switch disposed relative to the backboard to provide the first signal when the basketball impinges on the backboard and wherein the second sensor includes a second switch disposed relative to the rim to provide the second signal when the basketball impinges on the rim and wherein the third sensor includes a third switch disposed relative to the net to provide the third signal when the basketball passes through the net.
 16. In a combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating the impingement of the basketball against individual ones of the backboard and the rim and the subsequent movement of the basketball relative to the net.
 17. In a combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net.
 18. In a combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has not passed through the net.
 19. In a combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the processor is responsive to the production of the third signal without the previous production of individual ones of the first and second signals for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without having previously impinged upon the backboard or the rim.
 20. In a combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein the processor is responsive to the production of the third signal without the previous production of individual ones of the first and second signals for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without having previously impinged upon the backboard or the rim and wherein the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate whether the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has passed through the net and wherein the processor is responsive to individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon individual ones of the backboard and the rim and has not passed through the net and wherein the processor is responsive to the production of the third signal without the previous production of individual ones of the first and second signals for indicating when the basketball has passed through the net without impinging upon the backboard or the rim and wherein the processor is responsive to the individual ones of the first, second and third signals for indicating when the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and the rim and then has passed through the net.
 21. In combination for use with a basketball shot by a player, a backboard, a first sensor disposed relative to the backboard for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player hits the backboard, a rim disposed on the backboard, a second sensor disposed relative to the rim for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player hits the rim, a net extending from the rim, a third sensor disposed relative to the net for providing a response when the basketball shot by the player passes through the net, and a processor operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating whether or not the basketball has impinged upon the backboard and whether or not the basketball has impinged upon the rim and whether or not the basketball has passed through the net.
 22. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications of the processor for providing a sensory indication of the path of movement of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net.
 23. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, the processor being operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating the movement through the net of the basketball shot by the player and for indicating the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball passes through the net.
 24. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, the processor being operative in accordance with the responses of the first, second and third sensors for indicating the failure of the basketball to pass through the net and for indicating the path of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball fails to pass through the net.
 25. In a combination as set forth in claim 21, sensory apparatus responsive to the indications of the processor for providing a sensory indication of a failure of the basketball to pass through the net and of the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball fails to pass through the net, the sensory apparatus being responsive to the indications of the processor for providing a sensory indication of a passage of the basketball through the net and of the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim before the basketball passes through the net.
 26. In a method of indicating the flight path of a basketball when the basketball is shot by a player, the steps of: providing a basketball backboard and a rim supported by the backboard and a net supported by the rim, providing a first signal when the basketball hits the backboard, providing a second signal when the basketball hits the rim, providing a third signal when the basketball passes through the net, and processing the production, or the lack of production, of respective ones of the first, second and third signals to indicate the flight path of the basketball relative to the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.
 27. In a method as set forth im claim 26, the step of: providing a sensory indication of the path of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.
 28. In a method as set forth in claim 26 wherein the processing of the first and second signals is delayed to coordinate the processing of the first and second signals with the processing of the third signal to indicate the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player.
 29. In a method as set forth in claim 26, the step of: providing a sensory indication of the movement of the basketball through the net and the path of movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the net before the movement of the basketball through the net.
 30. In a method as set forth in claim 26, including the step of: providing a sensory indication of the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard and the rim without passing through the net.
 31. In a method as set forth in claim 29 wherein the processing of the first and second signals is delayed to coordinate the processing of the first and second signals with the processing of the third signal to indicate the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player and wherein the sensory indication is audible.
 32. In a method as set forth in claim 30 wherein the processing of the first and second signals is delayed to coordinate the processing of the first and second signals with the processing of the third signal to indicate the movement of the basketball relative to individual ones of the backboard, the rim and the net after the basketball has been shot by the player and wherein the sensory indication is audible. 